Musical instrument



Nov. 28, 1950 L. M. HARTMAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheecs-Sheet l FiledMarch 4, 1949 Nov. 28, 1950 L. M. HARTMAN 2,532,226

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 4, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 28, 1950 1M. HARTMAN 2,532,226

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 5 PatentedNov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Lyle M.Hartman, Ohaton, Alberta, Canada Application March 4, 1949, Serial No.79,611

Claims. l

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in musicalinstruments, more particularly to instruments wherein the sound isproduced by the striking of wires under tension with hammers or thelike, operated by pianotype keys, an object of my invention being toprovide a device of the character herewithin described which has theplaying technique of a piano but due to the novel construction includingthe sound box produces a distinctive tone.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which incorporates means whereby a tremolo eifectmay be produced by the manipulation of the piano-type keys.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is portable and which may be supported eitherupon a table or upon folding legs provided with the instrument.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which although being portable has amusical range of at least four octaves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is relatively economical in manufacture andwhich provides a useful and pleasing addition to the variety ofinstruments now being manufactured.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specifications proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of mydevice.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 with the legs extended.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective fragmentation of my playing assemblysectioned in part to show the details thereof,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of one of my hammerassemblies in the normal or non-playing position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary drawing of one of my hammerassemblies, with the key in the down or striking position.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the differentfigures.

Proceeding to describe my invention in detail,

will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that themusical instrument embodies the casing i having a substantiallyharpiform configuration when viewed in plan and supported by the foldinglegs 2 pivotally attached to the underside thereof and braced by meansof the diagonal struts 3. The casing I comprises the upper and lowerpanels 4 held in spaced relationship by means of the side pieces 5, thusforming the sound box E, the purpose of which will hereinafter beexplained.

Surmounting the forward end 'l of the casing is my keyboard assemblycollectively designated 8, of substantially harpiform configurationcomprising the front anchor plate 9 spanning two keyboard endplates I0between which a set of black and white piano-type keys Il are situated.Strings l2 span the upper panel 4 of the casing l extending from theforward face i3 to which they are attached by means of screws or thelike, to the conventional pitch adjusting keys I4 situated adjacent therearmost edge l5 of the casting. The strings are elevated from the upperface by means of the front bridge I6 situated parallel with theaforementioned forward edge i3, and the rear bridge I 'l situatedadjacent to and parallel with the aforementioned rear edge I5.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings shows the arrangement of thekeyboard assembly 8 and it will be seen that the keys H are pivotallyattached within the recess i 8 formed on the underside of the keysupporting member I9 which spans the end plates lll as clearly shown inFigure 1. The keys il are drilled transversely towards rear end 20thereof and are rotatably mounted upon a shaft 2l also extending betweenthe end plates I9. A longitudinally extending strip of felt or the like22 is attached to the forward under-surface of the recess i8 againstwhich the upper surface of the keys bear in order to eliminate anyundesirable noise when the key returns to the raised position. Arectangular recess 23 is provided in the under side of the key slightlyforward of the centre thereof within which is receivable the bifurcatedattachment arm Z5 pivotally attached at one end thereof to the key bymeans of the pin 25 extending transversely across the recess.

Striking actions collectively designated 25 comprise the connecting rod2l, bell cranks 28 and the return springs 2S. Bell cranks 28 arejournalled for rotation upon a shaft 3l! which is supported by theextension 3l of the U-shaped members 32 attached to the internal face ofthe front anchor plate 9 by means of bolts 33.

drawings.

These U-shaped members are adjacently situated across the width of theanchor plate 9, alternate members having the aforementioned extensions3i in order to support the Shaft 30. Each U-shaped member is designed inthis embodiment to contain the actions for three consecutive keys and isprovided with the spring carrying anchor plate 3e held in position bythe aforementioned bolts 33, vertical adjustment thereof :being`fpermitt'ed by the verticalslottinsr of the attaching apertures 35 for`the purpose hereinafter to be explained.

The spring'anchor plates 3Q are provided with the upper iiange 355 uponwhich is attachedrthe felt stripping 3l which acts .as a cushion for theforward underside edges '23T -of the -keys ll when same are depressed.The loweriianges Vt3 of the anchor plates extend outwardly and upwardlyfrom the attaching portion substantially as shown in Figure 4 of theaccompanying drawings, and 'fare provided 'with"'apertures :39 adjacent-to the 'edges `-thereof 'into' .whichare receivable -the ends i of 'theAstriking faction return: springs 2 9.

' The 'returnisprings extend betweeny the anchor @plates 35i andi theupper arm *Et 'of 'the-.bell crank component iZS. The yconnecting rods2i' o 'the .fstrikingaction extend lbetween'the `lower li Tof the bell`crank components :to 'which 'they f are fpiv'otally fattach'edby means:of Ypins fand the distal ends of the aforementioned 'attachment :arms21s. In thisembodimentllthe.'upper 'end of Lth'e @connecting fr'odlv-acts va's a b'all receivable wi-thinthe'two Vsocket 'portions 3123' onvthe 'end of the arm 2d, the tension thereof ibeingtc'ontrolled 'by'means' of-setscrews @It inthe V''conventi'onal manner.

"Thehammersfcollectively designated 45 com- Y iprisef flat resilientstrips of 'material 'ltdsecured fby'means-of'setscrews or thellike tothezunderside 'of belllcrariks'within a 'slotted-shoulder 53'?. "Theresilient lstripil' isstiiiened at vthe point of atta'chment't'othebll'-cra1ik by arein'iorcing leaf ispring 8 also receivable withinthe shoulder di asclearly shown inligureeof the accompanying A 'stringimpacting 'hammer head li? fis-provided upon'the distal end o'i the'resilient strip i5 being felt covered in the conventional fma'nner.

A 'novel "feature of my 'piano-harp is the vibrating vassemblycollectively 'designated by 'whichl obtain a tremolo effect-in playing.This assembly comprises 'a flat resilient strip of mafterial-ei attachedto 'the underside or the aforementioned anchoringfbracket'' by meansofset- I have provided a string damper t5 uporl the distal end of the buttend extension 511i which engages with the string when the hammer isreleased thus eliminating the vibration of the string after the note hasbeen struck.

In operation the key H is depressed or struck journalling around the keyshaft 2l and causing the connecting rod 2l to rotate the bell crank 28thus placing the return spring 29 under tension. The' bell "crank inrotationfmottes hammer'li in an aro causing the hammer head i9 to strikethe string l2 thus producing the note.

VvIt should be observed that the stationary promi ontory 53 interceptsthe butt end extension 54 .just prior to the hammer head dii strikingthe string thus placing the hammer under spring tension 'which'gpermitsthe aforementioned tremolo Ascrews or the -vlike'be'ing stinened by alea spring r 252 .as clearly shown'in'Figure'Li. A stationaryinterceptingipromontory 53 in the Aform 'oi a'frela- -tively'small wheelis `provide'd'on' the'un'derside of fthe distal end of 'the atstrip! andis engage- 'ablebyfthe butt fend' extension 5 o'i the hammer "ed whichYextends irearwardly from "the slotted shoulder 122i of the bell' crank23. in the embodi- 'mentiillustrated .the butt fendextension 'is shownfas a separatey strip of material' which has the Jeffe'ct 'of furtherstiiening the hammer 'but it `will :be 'appreciated 'that it may ifdesired be 'formed with the hammer d'5. The aforementioned promontory 53is engageable by the extension 54 when the 'hammer is in the "resseclor-"strikingposition, 'theV strip El carrying the 'promontory be'ingexed with and by the extension thus placing-'the hammer d under .tensionwhich permits rapid oscillation the keyfthus providing'a tremolo effectas will hereinafter 'become apparent.

effect to be produced by the oscillation of the key The forwardundersurace edges 3l of the keys should be adjusted with relation to thefelt 'stripping 3.-'l by means of"theaforementioned slotted portion of'the .anchor 'plate inlorder to fensure 'that the 'hammer head rstrikes'the 'strings before the keg/*meets 'the yfelt.

AIf it is desire-Ll to prolong the note fthe-n :the =keyfisfnotrelease-el 'entirely vas it will he apprelci'ated that :upon release orthe the `stri-ng damper 55 'on the-end or" the'butt-end extensie '-555'engages `with the lstring thusV stopping -tlievibration thereof.

As-hereinbefore described, a -note'fmayailso' be held 'by the 'treniclc-rnethcd depending uponthe fki'nd-'o'f music "being played or the'effe-:Lts desired y'by 't'he player.

Since various modifications can be 'made iin'rnfiy 'invention asvihereinabove described, 'apparently wideiy-dierentembodiments of same'madewithin Vthe-spirit and 'scope foi the c ms'withoutf'depai'ting'from suchspi it scopefi't is intended that rlimatter containedY in the 'accompanying speoi'eation -shall heinterpreted 'illustrative only and-'not in'a limiting-sense.

What Iolam as my -invention is:

l. A piano-harp 'characterized by the'combination with a horizontallydisposed and substan- :tially harpiiorm keyboard `of a set 'of keys andan associated 'line-up vof shaft-supported 'ham- 'mers therebeneath, astriking action connected to and extending between each key and'one ofthe hammers, said action embodying a "bell- 'crank component 'journalled`on 'said 'shaft and a 'connecting rod extending .between said crank'and sai'd key, spring means also extending between saidY crankV and anadjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of a atAresilient strip of .material secured to said crank, a 'string impactinghead on the distal end thereof and 'at least one leaf spring overlyingsaid hammer in the region of attachment of said hammer to 'said crankfor "stiiening said strip, and a vibrating assembly composed ofastationary intercepting promontory and a butt-end extension 'on 'saidhammer engageable'with said and said key, spring means also extendingbetween said crank and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers eachconsisting of a flat resilient strip of material secured to said crank,a string impacting head on the distal end thereof, and means forvibrating said hammer against the strings of said keyboard when a key isstruck.

S. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontallydisposed and Substantially harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and anassociated line-up of shaft-Supported hammers therebeneath, a strikingaction connected to and extending between each key and one of saidhammers, said action embodying a bell-crank component journalled on saidshaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key,spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point ofanchorage, said hammers each consisting of a flat resilient strip ofmaterial secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distalend thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in theregion of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiiening saidstrip, a vibrating assembly composed of stationary interceptingpromontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with saidpromontory when said hammer is depressed to produce a vibrating soundeffect on said keyboard, and a string damper on said extension forengagement with the associated string of said keyboard when said key isreleased.

4. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontallydisposed and substantial harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and anassociated line-up of shaft-supported hammers therebeneath, a strikingaction connected to and extending between each key and one of saidhammers, said action embodying a bellcrank component journalled on saidshaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key,spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point ofanchorage, said hammers each consisting of 1 a fiat resilient strip ofmaterial secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distalends thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in theregion of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiffening saidstrip, and a vibrating assembly composed of stationary interceptingpromontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with saidpromontory when said hammer is depressed to produce a vibrating soundeffect on said keyboard, said extension taking the form of a resilientstrip which contacts said promontory before said impacting head makescontact with the string of said keyboard.

5. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontallydisposed and substantial harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and anassociated line-up of shaft-supported hammers therebeneath, a strikingaction connected to and extending between each key and one of saidhammers, said action embodying a bellcrank component journalled on saidshaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key,spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point ofanchorage, said hammers each consisting of a flat resilient strip ofmaterial secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distalend thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in theregion of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiiening saidstrip, and a vibrating assembly composed of stationary interceptingpromontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with saidpromontory when said hammer is depressed to produce/a Vibrating soundeffect on said keyboard, said extension taking the form of a resilientstrip which connects said promontory before said impacting head makescontact with the string of said keyboard, and a string damper on saidextension for engagement with the string of said keyboard when said keyis released.

LYLE M. HARTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,581 Stienback June 9, 19031,015,896 Kiessig Jan. 30, 1912 1,405,328 Puchalski Jan. 31, 19222,244,332 Finney et al June 3, 1941

